Women In Low Carb Series: Jennifer Dunlap

In January 2021, everything changed for one family when their son and brother, Will, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. We first connected with Will’s mom, Jennifer, a couple years ago through her Facebook community, where she supports other families navigating T1D. Jennifer has built an incredible network and transparently shares her family’s powerful journey daily; overcoming fears, embracing a low-carb lifestyle, and discovering the impact of food on managing diabetes.

We’ve kept this feature as a direct interview because Jennifer’s responses are filled with so much insight and raw emotion. Enjoy her inspiring interview below.

Tell us about your journey—how did it all begin?

Our son, Will, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in January of 2021. He had looked pale, and seemed a bit sick for a couple of weeks. It was COVID and cold outside. He wasn’t running a fever and didn’t have a sore throat, so I figured  it was a lack of sunshine and maybe sleep. It wasn’t until he started wetting the bed and drinking enormous amounts of water that I became suspicious it was something more than just a seasonal sniffle. I took him in to see the pediatrician. They tested his blood sugar, and the meter read HIGH. On that chilly January afternoon, in a tiny little office, our lives changed forever. 

Will was not in DKA (Diabetic ketoacidosis), and we were able to take him to the hospital ourselves where he was admitted for 3 days. During that time we watched a series of videos explaining Type 1 Diabetes and listened to doctors instructing us to do math equations to figure out the amounts of insulin his body needed to break down sugar and food. I was overwhelmed, confused and the most terrified I had ever been in my entire life.

How did the diagnosis of your child with Type 1 diabetes impact you and your family?

Our entire family was thrown off balance. My husband and I were devastated and his siblings were scared and confused. At the time, I was homeschooling our 3 kids. We took a couple weeks off to get a grasp on our new normal. Nights were long with constant finger pokes and corrections. Everytime Will wanted to eat, a sense of panic would set in. We never knew if the amounts of insulin we were giving were going to be right. Low blood sugars were a constant fear. There was a lot of yelling, crying and moments of feeling hopeless. The future seemed like a very scary place. 

What led you to explore carbohydrate restriction or a low-carb lifestyle for your family?

My husband was the first to question the doctors at diagnosis. If over-administering insulin could be so dangerous, then why would we not slim down the odds of mistakes by lowering the carb consumption? Will was being fed all sorts of high carb foods during his hospital stay. His regular meals were pancakes, chicken tenders and french fries. The doctors gave us a few reasons why these foods were important and why focusing on a low-carb diet would be limiting and make him feel deprived. We both knew that what they were telling us didn’t sound right, but our kid could die. We were making no mistakes that could jeopardize his health. It was all too new and scary. So we left the hospital with our book of instructions and followed the plan for 2 weeks. What we found was roller coaster blood sugars, sleepless nights and a life engulfed by stress and fear. I decided to find an alternative way to manage diabetes. 

How did you discover the low-carb and sugar-free approach?

I spent days and nights searching the internet for natural remedies or any glimmers of hope by people who had beaten T1. I found a lot of silly articles and blogs about things like eating mass quantities of cinnamon, but nothing that promised anything more than a laugh or disappointment. Then, one night I stumbled upon a website called Let Me Be 83. It was a blog run by a mom, whose son was beating the odds. He was a competitive tennis player, an A student, looked strong and healthy and most astonishingly…ran NORMAL blood sugars. Like a candle in the dark, she was a light. I reached out to her. She answered me right away, told me there was another way, and invited me into a small, private group of parents who taught me everything I needed to know about caring for Will. On that one single night…everything changed. 

What inspired you to make the switch to a low-carb lifestyle?

We had a family meeting. We all sat down and discussed Type 1, and the long-term complications from running high sugars and about the dangers of lows. Together we made a pact to reduce the carbs for a few weeks to see what sort of impact it would have on Will’s blood sugars. My kids were young (12, 10 and 9), but when we laid out the WHY behind the reason to change…they were all in. 

I changed our diets to support Will, and to find steadier, safer and healthier blood sugars. What I found was when I changed the foods, every ailment and aspect of our lives changed too.  My kids no longer suffer from sleep issues, constipation or hyperactivity. In fact, they have all 3 dropped ADHD medications. They are all A students, athletes and have wonderful relationships with peers. Seeing the impact of food on health has been one of the greatest gifts of T1. 

How long have you and your family been following a low-carb lifestyle?

My family has been following a low carb diet for almost 4 years. 

How did you transition your entire family to a low-carb way of eating?

Giving up sugar wasn’t easy. Sugar addiction is REAL. We ALL suffered, but we pushed through. I threw out everything in the pantry that no longer worked for us. I stopped buying foods that contained ingredients that spiked blood sugars. I spent countless hours searching for recipes online and baking in the kitchen. It seemed that sweets were the most missed…so I tried all sorts of low carb cookies, cakes and brownies to curb the cravings. Some were fails, and some worked out. Nothing tasted like wheat or sugar. It all took time to adjust, and as a family we supported each other to stay on course. I bought a bunch of low carb cookbooks and had my kids help choose recipes that looked good. Getting them involved gave them a sense of ownership in the change. It helped pull the focus off being “Pressured” into this new way of eating and filled them with pride for succeeding. Making it a family affair, and doing it all together was a huge piece to the puzzle of success. 

What does your version of a low-carb lifestyle look like for you and your family?

Things are pretty easy now. We avoid wheat, rice, potatoes, corn, grains, high sugar fruits and sugar subs that spike blood sugars. We eat a lot of protein, vegetables, dairy and baked goods made with low glycemic flours like almond or coconut. I give my older kids the freedom to make their own choices when outside the house, and I don’t question or ask about what they choose. I trust that our experience has set them up to understand the importance of nutrition. 

Has your approach to low-carb changed over time?

Our strategy hasn’t changed. We avoid foods and ingredients that spike blood sugar. There has been no reason to re-introduce anything that doesn’t work, because there are so many things that do. The ramifications of eating a high carb dessert would never be worth the havoc it would cause on blood sugars. We simply substitute high carb foods for things that keep Will steady and safe. This means not indulging in desserts at restaurants and me making treats to take to parties. We are a team, and there has never been a time that one of us eats a piece of cake while Will is left out. We do this life together. 

What do you find most challenging about maintaining a low-carb lifestyle, especially as a family?

Over the years, everything has gotten easier. Cooking, navigating parties, holidays etc…we have figured out. I would say the hardest part for me personally, is the thought of sleepaway retreats, camps or birthday parties. The American diet is SO HIGH in sugar. Prepping meals for a week and figuring out how to manage food when Will is away, is daunting to me. However, I know people have done it. When the time comes I will reach out to those who have navigated these times for tips, advice and encouragement. My greatest asset are other parents on the journey. 

What do you love most about the low-carb lifestyle?

Our family bond has never been stronger. Our family dynamics have never been healthier. Living through such a change, and supporting one another through these uncertain times has been life-changing and will no doubt create a ripple effect of encouragement, determination and perseverance on my kids’ lives forever. I love sharing our story. I love inspiring others to make the change. I love proving that the food we eat and feed our kids…MATTERS. 

Has this lifestyle affected your career or other aspects of your life?

I was really upset in the beginning. I felt duped by the system and lost all trust in medical professionals. My attitude and energy definitely leaked out into my extended family members and friends. I am a little ashamed to say that I probably turned a lot of people off, and caused a lot of people to feel stressed or judged when eating with our family. When I realized this was happening, I decided to change the way I was spreading my message. I started a Facebook page, and named it “Will and Goody- The Type One Team.” (Goody is the name that Will has given his pancreas).  I needed a space where I could journal, and it turned into a resource for other parents to learn about the foods I serve, strategies I use and how we navigate the ins and outs of Type 1.  

Recently, I changed the name to “Will and Goody- Our Smart Carb Life.” I started to realize that I had a lot of followers who are not Type 1. I was so fulfilled knowing that my page was reaching parents outside the diabetes world, so I wanted to create a name that was more welcoming to all. While Type 1 is still the main focus, it is not the only reason I keep the page. There is so much to our lives than this condition, and I love to share our story. 

Have you ever faced social challenges or scrutiny for your family’s dietary decisions?

Most people do not understand how sugar impacts our lives. Most (even very smart medical professionals) don’t even understand what turns to sugar in the body. Our American lives are built upon a food pyramid which advises that more than 50% of our diets come from carbs. Spending a little time and doing some research on the rise of obesity, cancer, autoimmune and other chronic health conditions, and the correlation with the implementation of the food pyramid is a real eye-opening and unsettling exercise. It is clear that our food industry continues to produce cheap, addicting and high “bliss point” foods while our pharmaceutical and healthcare industries are working on masking the symptoms of this over-consumption. 

It is a tough cookie to swallow, especially for the MANY who have an addiction to these very foods. I say this as someone who has suffered through sugar withdrawal, not in a way to come across as judgmental or rude. It has been proven that sugar is more addictive than cocaine and the more sugar we eat, the unhealthier our bodies become and the more we are seeing health issues rise. 

I used to feel the need to explain all of this when people questioned our diets. It definitely put a chip on my shoulder and I felt judged - thinking others felt I was depriving my kids of a childhood full of pop tarts and cake. However, I let go of those silly feelings and now I simply, and quite honestly, proudly say…”as a family we support Will by living a sugar free life, and the benefits to our health from this change have been nothing short of miraculous for us all. 

What was the best advice you received during this journey, and who gave it to you?

Once I once asked a friend how she learned all of the strategies she used to achieve normal blood sugars. She told me…”by failing and trying again.” That simple statement really empowered me to push through challenging times. I now know that even when times get tough, I will pull through. I also know that sometimes failing is the only way we will learn…and that the WIN will sometimes come in the RECOVERY. 

What advice would you give to families just starting out on a low-carb lifestyle, especially those facing a medical diagnosis like Type 1 diabetes?

When things are out of control, the way we respond is how we find our power. The person who knows what is best for your kid and family, is YOU. Nobody has a crystal ball, miracles can happen at any time. When we focus on gratitude for the tools we have, our perception changes. Happiness is an inside job. When you change the way you see things, the things you see CHANGE. Hang in there, keep trying…failure is on the path of winning. 

Do you have any favorite low-carb hacks or tips that have helped you, particularly with raising a low-carb family?

I’ve found that most low carb recipes use a lot of the same ingredients. My pantry stays stocked with baking supplies that make it pretty easy to always be able to whip up a plate of treats. I also keep a box of mixes on hand for last minute needs. 

Once I collected some family favorite recipes under my belt, it became so much easier to make dinner. I’ve found plenty of carb-replacements like mashed cauliflower or lupin rice…however over time my kids dropped their needs for these things. Meat and vegetables work just fine.

I have found a lot of freezer foods (like Real Good Chicken strips) to keep on hand for busy days and I also love to make crock-pot meals for chilly sports nights. 

I follow a few amazing bloggers that I know always share delicious, safe recipes and often save them to my facebook file for nights I feel like trying new things. 

I shop at many grocery stores, and usually multiple times throughout the week. I stock up on BOGO deals and find a lot of savings at wholesale stores like Costco or Sam’s. 

What has it been like raising a low-carb family in a world full of carb-heavy options?

I am so incredibly proud of my family, and of myself. Overcoming the temptation of sugar and the pressure of society, to indulge in unhealthy foods, has been an incredible triumph. Even if a cure for T1 comes (which I do believe will happen) our diets and the way I feed my family will not change. I feel LUCKY to have found this lifestyle and grateful for challenges we have defeated. 

Is there anything else you would like to share with us about your family’s journey, or anything you feel others should know about living low-carb with a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis?

When you change the food, everything changes. Blood sugar patterns, graphs and basal needs are so much easier to see and predict. It is not about giving up delicious foods, it is about changing the ingredients to set our kids up for long, healthy lives. There are a lot of people who have only been taught how to treat T1 diabetes with high carb foods and large amounts of insulin. This is not the only way. Our kids CAN eat safe, nutritious diets and use safe amounts of insulin. Managing this way protects us from uncontrollable highs and urgent lows. 

There will always be unexpected changes and challenges. Being prepared with game plans and  supplies. Supportive people will keep you afloat during these times. Knowing that (like the seasons) everything changes and expecting that everything will work out, will keep your path to success clear, and the way you respond, effective. 

Remember...

There is always a strategy.

YOU have the POWER to do what is right for your family.

Nobody has a crystal ball - YET is a powerful word.

Happiness is an inside job- We make that stuff ourselves.

The way we respond to things that are out of our control, is where our power lies.

It is important to always look for what is going right, and to accept that sometimes the win will be in the recovery.

There are some who hold candles in the dark, seek them out and follow their light.

Fear and gratitude can’t be experienced at the same time - EXPECT MIRACLES.

To learn more about Jennifer, her family and her support community, click to visit her website and facebook page